Bearing



\ Juiy l5, 1%? M. HAEBVERLEHN 2,424,028

BEARING Filed July 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 Z Max Haabarlsm I ATTORNEY N ENTOR BY l July 15, 1947. HAEBE RLEEN 2,424,025

BEARING I Filed July 1, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /4 5 745 3/5 i iii '3 i Max Hasbsrfam INVENTOR 35 40 BY a ATTORNE y 4 M. HAEBERLElN ,4 4, 28

BEARING Filed July 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 9 I A raw/1151011111110 I Max HEEbH/EI'H IN ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 15, '1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE name Max Haeberlein, Maplewood, N. 1., asslgnor to Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, Harrison, N. L, a corporation of Delaware Application July 1, 1943, Serial No. 492,979

tial films of tapered lubricant. An ample supply of lubricant is essential, and it frequently happens that the adjusting devices are so arranged in the bearing as to hinder the proper distribution of the lubricant.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bearing of durable and simple construction, wherein a bearing element proper is formed with segments flexibly and integrally connected therewith in which the segments operate in such manner, without the aid of adjusting devices, as to maintain proper and permanent distribution of the total load to all the segments and wherein novel means are incorporated to maintain an ample supply of lubricant about the relatively moving bearing surfaces in such manner as'to eliminate excessive agitation of the lubricant and consequent forming thereof.

Another object is to provide a thrust bearing of the segment type wherein the bearing proper is supported in a novel seat of such construction as to permit self-aligning of the bearing and its shaft or journal with respect to the bearing support.

Another object is to provide a combination radial and thrust bearing; wherein the thrust bearing includes a bearing element having segments integrally and flexibly connected therewith, in which the thrust and radial units are arranged in a compact unit of simple and durable construction, and in which a single seat is provided to permit self-aligning of both the thrust and radial bearing and their common shaft or journal with respect to their hearing support.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specificatiomthe invention consists of various'features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying 4 Claims. (01. 808-73) In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a face view of a thrust bearing element provided with segments in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional development of a portion of the thrust bearing element.

Figure 3 is a view 'similar'to Figure 2 but illustrating the action of the segments with respect to their associated thrust collar to provide wedge shaped films of lubricant between the relatively moving parts. I Figure 4 is an axial sectional view of a combinat-ion radial and thrust bearing, with the. shaft l 5-5 of Figure 4, with a portion broken away or journal illustrated in elevation.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line for the purpose of illustration;

Figure-6 is'an axial sectional view of radial bearing.

Figure Us a sectional view taken alongsthe line Referring toFlgures l, 2 and 3 which illustrate the principle of operation of the wedgefilm pro,-

ducingstructure, Figure 1 indicatesa thrust bean ing element in the nature of an annular body provided with radial chambers orpassagest. These passages lie intermediate the and faces of the collar, and one end face of the collar is provided with radial cuts t to divide the collar into a plurality of segments t. These segments are integrally connected with the uncut portion 5 of the collar by radial webs t. The webs t are rela tively thin and flexibly connect the segment 43 with the portion, 5.

' The thrust collar associated with the bearing element 4 is indicated at 6'. Antifriction liners l are attached to the segments 4, which liners have pressure engagement with one face of the collar 53- All the liners are rounded at 8 along the radial edges to facilitate the entry of lubricant between the bearing faces of the liners and the collar 6'. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the web 6 shown in Figures 2 and 3, the thrust collar 6' drawings, showing a bearing of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically-pointed out in the claims.

rotates in the direction of the arrow 9. Because of the flexibility of the webs 6,'any eccentric force effective on the segments 4 tends to tilt the segments in a slight degree. Lubricant drawn in between the segments and the collar takes the form of wedges tapering toward the trailing edges of the segments; The tapered lubricant or oil film is under maximum pressure. near the center of the loaded areas of the segments, and, owing to the I is provided with a co-axial pin- II of smaller.

diameter than the shaft to provide an annular shoulder I2. Upon the pin I I is mounted a thrust collar I3. The collar has face engagement with the shoulder I2 and may be shrunk upon the pin II to fixedly relate the collar and the pin. The collar I3 is located between two thrust bearing elements I4 and I5. Both elements I4 and I5 are provided with segments I6 which bear against the two end faces of the collar.- The segments I6 are provided with antifriction liners I! for engagement with the collar I3, and segments I6 are arranged radially in conformity with Figure 1.

Both "elements I4 and I5 are fixed to an annular seat member I8 by bolts I9. Annular shoulders 20 on the elements I4 and I5 engage inside the seat member I8 to maintain the seat member concentrically with the axes of the elements I4 and I5.

Radial bearings 2I and 22 are integrally connected with the elements I4 and I5 respectively. The bearings 2| and 22 are co-axlal and of like diameters. in the bearing 2I for bearing engagement with the shaft I0. A similar bearing liner 24 is provided inside the bearing 22, but the liner 24 has bearing engagement with a sleeve 25 mounted on the pin II. The shaft II) and the sleeve 25 are of like outside diameters, which renders the elements I4 and I5 interchangeable. A nut'26 is threaded on one end of the pin I I to clamp the sleeve 25 against the collar I3, this collar being confined between the shoulder I2 and the sleeve The inner ends of the passages 21 are substantially closed by rings 28 pressed into bores 29 An antifriction liner 23 is provided through the seat member 36 adjacent the bottom wall structure of the housing 31.

The two elements, I4' and I5 are shaped to provide lubricant passages M on opposite sides of the flange 3I. Ports 42 place the groove, 33 in communication with the passages-4|, the ports being located closely adjacent the wall 34. Declining lubricant passages 43 in the elements I4 and I5 place the passages M in communication with axial lubricant grooves 44 in the respective liners 23. and 24. I

The seat member [8 is provided with a bearing face 45 comprising a portion of a sphere, this on the seat member 36.

face engaging a correspondingly shaped face 46 A key pin 41 is fixed to the flange 36 and is loosely receivable in a depression 48 in the seat member I8. While the pin 41 restrains the seat member I8 from relative rotation with respect to the seat chamber 36, the pin 41 may shift a slight amount relatively to the seat member I8 to permit the latter and the connected elements l4 and I5 to shift relatively to the housing 31. Such shifting permits the shaft I0 and the bearing structure to shift relatively to the housing in cases where it is necessary to shift the axis of the shaft with respect to, the housing axis.

In operation, the collar I3 is confined between two sets of bearing segments which operate to provide tapered films of lubricant between the segments and the bearing faces on the collar. Rotationof the collar I3 relatively to the elements I4 and I5 provides a pumping action which causes the lubricant to be drawn upwardly in in the respective elements I4 and I5. A slight clearance is provided between the rings 28 and the respective shaft Ill and sleeve 25, but the rings terminate slightly short of the bearing faces of the liners I1 'to provide lubricant-passing clearances 30 adjacent the end faces of the collar I3. a

The collar I3 lies in the plane of a flange 3! on the seat member I8. A slight clearance 32 is provided between the peripheral face of the collar I3 and the flange 3I. An oil groove or passage 33 is provided in the peripheral face of the flange 3|, the ends of the groove 33 being separated by a Wall 34 located vertically of the axis of the collar I3. A lubricant passage 35 is provided in the seat member I8 and a second seat member 36 which supports the seat member I8. flange fixed to a housing 3'! which constitutes an enclosure for the bearing structure. The seat member 36 is eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of the housing 31 to elevate the bearing structure in the housing. This arrangement provides ample room for a large quantity of lubricant, the lubricant having a normal level indicated at 38 in Figure A Communication between the chambers 39 in the housing 31 and the passage 35 is established through the medium the groove 33. The lubricant flows from the groove into the passages 21 so that an ample supply oflubricant is provided forv the segments. In addition, lubricant enters the passages 43 to supply the grooves 44 and lubricate the bearings 2I and 22 with respect to the shaft I0 and the pin II, respectively. The collar I3 is isolated from the lubricant in the spaces 33. Thisprovides an arrangement wherein the large quantity of lubricant in the housing 31 remains substantially undisturbed, and prevents excessive agitation and foaming of the lubricant. Circumferential grooves 49 and 50 are provided in the bearings 2I and 22 to arrest flow of the lubricant axially of the shaft I0 and the sleeve 25. The

end grooves 49- are provided with drain openings 5| which return lubricant accumulating therein back to the respective chambers 39. One end of the housing 31 is provided with a closure plug 5|, and the other end of the housing is provided with an opening 52 through which the shaft I0 extends loosely. Any lubricant flowing beyond the groove 49 in the bearing 2| is accumulated in an annular passage 53 communicating with the opening 52, this passage being provided with a drain opening 54 for returning the lubricant back to the adjacent chamber 33.

The housing 31 is made in two sections 55 and 56, the sections being fixedly related by screws 57.

The seat member 36 is in the nature of a A mounting flange 58 is fixed to the section 56 for connection with a suitable supporting foundation.

Figure 5 illustrates the Webs 59 as being relatively thin and arranged radially to render the The section 63 is provided with segments '65..

of a cross passage 40 extending horizontally These segments are separated at 66, and the spaces separating ,the segments communicate have bearing engagement with the shaft 68, A

bearing liner 69 is attached to the section 62 for engagement with the upper half of the shaft 60 extending through the bearing 6|. Assuming clockwise rotationof'the shaft 60 when viewing Figure '7, wedge shaped lubricant films are formed between the segment 65 and the shaft 68, as indicated by the-.clearance spaces 70, These spaces, as well as the wedge shaped clearances of Figure 3,'are exaggerated in a considerabledegree to illustrate the wedge contours of the lubricant films.

Grooves H are provided in the section 62 to loosely'accommodate oil rings 12 which hang from the shaft 60. Both oil rings hang some distance beneath the section 63 to be partly submerged in lubricant contained in the chambers 13 of a housing it forming an enclosure for the bearing structure. Both sections 62 and 83 are cut away to provide two horizontal lubricant accumu lating grooves 15 along diametrically opposite lines adjacent the shaft 68. Both grooves 7| communicate with the grooves i5, so that lubricant deposited upon the shaft 68 by the rings 12 flows into the grooves 15. Thus the passages 6'! are supplied with an ample quantity of lubricant for maintaining the wedge shaped lubricant films between the segments and the shaft. The webs 16 are located centrally of their respective segments 65, and the arrangement of the grooves 15 assures ample quantities of lubricant for these segments regardless of direction of rotation of the shaft 69. The grooves 15' terminate short of the ends of the bearing member 6i so as to confine the lubricant withinthe grooves for delivery to the passage 81.

The section 63 is provided with circumferential groove 76 which communicates at its ends with the respective grooves 15. All the passages 61 communicate with the groove 16. Thus lubricant flows from the groove 15 and into the groove 16. The groove it constitutes a feeder for the passages 67, so that the latter passages fill with lubricant to provide an ample distribution for all the segments.

The housin 14 comprises sections 18 and 19 secured into a unitary structure by bolts 80. Means for supporting the bearing (it inside the housing 14 comprises an annular rib 88 extending circumferentially of the bearing 6|. This rib is provided with a circumferential groove 82 for the reception of an annular rib 83 fixed to the housing 14. Relative rotation between the ribs 8| and 83 is restrained by a pin 8 t attached to the rib 83 and projecting into a recess 85 in the rib 81.

The bearing 6| is arranged eccentrically inside the housing 14 to increase the size of the chambers I3. A passage 86 in the rib 88 places the two chambers 13 in communication with each other.

End plates 8'8 are attached to the bearing Si 'by bolts 88. Each plate 81 is provided with a lubricant-collecting flange 89 closely embracing the shaft 68. Lubricant deflectin flanges so are formed on the shaft 60 and lie partly inside the respective flanges 89 and closely adjacent the end plates 87. The faces 9| of the flanges 99 are arranged at right angles to the axis ofthe shaft 60 and the ribs are of tapered contour outwardly from the end plates 81. Any lubricant which escapes from the bearing 61 tends to collect in the flanges 89. Both flanges are provided with .connection with a suitable foundation.

drain openings 92 for returning the lubricant to cant-collecting grooves 93, which grooves are pro-' vided with drain openings 94 leading into the chamber 13.

A mounting rib 95 is fixed to the section 18 for In all forms of the bearing, the bearing enclosing housingis so designed as to constitute a reservoir for a relatively large quantity of lubricant. The lubricant in the reservoir remains relatively undisturbed, but the bearing structure is such as to maintain pools of lubricant about the segments. In no case do the segments dip directly into the pools of lubricant in the housing.

In the absence of lubricant between the segments and their journal member, the segments lie face to face with the co-acting bearing faceof their journal member. Because of the flexible mounting of the segments, lubricant wedging between the segments and the journal member cause such displacement of the segments as to maintain tapered films of lubricant between the relatively moving parts. While the drawings illustrate the segments as being provided with bearing liners, such liners may be dispensed with in cases where the segments are formed entirely of material having good bearing qualities in itself.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bearing having a lubricant reservoir, 9. bearing body provided with a lubricant distributing passage, a journal means, bearing segments comprising portions of said bearing body and arranged to rotatably support said journal means, said segments being spaced one from the other to provide lubricant receiving passages, said bearing body being shaped to isolate said segments from said reservoir but said lubricant receiving passageshaving communication with said lubricant distributing passage, and lubricant carrying means actuated through rotation of said journal means for moving lubricant from said reservoir and into said lubricant distributing passage for delivery to said lubricant receiving passages, said lubricant carrying means comprising an oil ring suspended from said journal means and dipping into the lubricant in the reservoir.

2. In a bearing having a lubricant reservoir, a bearing body provided with a lubricant distributing passage, a journal means, bearing segments,

1 and into said lubricant distributing passage for nal means, said bearing unit being shaped to isolate said segments from said reservoir but said iubricantreceiving passages having communication with said lubricant distributing passages, and rings suspended from said journal means and partially submerged in the lubricant in said reservoir for carrying lubricant to said journal means and into said lubricant distributing passages.

4. In a bearing, a housing shaped to provide a lubricant reservoir, a bearing unit mounted in said housing, a shaft rotatably supported in said bearing unit, said bearing unit being provided with horizontal lubricant distributing passages opening toward said shaft, and bearing segments comprising portions of said bearing unit arranged to rotatably support said shaft, said segments being spaced one from the other to provide lubricant receiving passages, said bearing unit being provided with a groove placing said lubricant distributing passages in communication with said lubricant receiving passages, and rings suspended from said shaft in planes extending transversely of said lubricant distributingpassages and dipping into said reservoir to carry lubricant on to said shaft and into said lubricant distributing passages. I

MAX HAEBERLEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 513,696 Wood 1 Jan. 30, 1894 1,295,974 Dron -1 Mar. 4, 1919 1,546,890 Gilson July 21, 1925 1,409,552 Kingsbury et a1 Mar. 14, 1922 1,425,978 Kingsbury Aug. 15, 1922 1,735,315 Fulpin Nov. 12, 1929 1,760,904 Howarth June 3, 1930 2,054,219 Howarth Sept. 15, 1936 1,609,496 Reed Dec. 7, 1926 1,956,973 Baum May 1, 1934 2,217,200 Fast Oct, 8, 1940 1,712,277 McIntyre May 7, 1925 1,734,906 Howarth Nov. 5, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 319,066 Germany Mar. 1, 1920 605,097 France Feb. 9, 1926 125,510 Great Britain Apr. 17, 1919 341,605 Germany Oct. 5, 1921 871,964 Germany Mar. 24, 1923 

